Dispensing top for containers



Nov. 15, 193$. c 3 HUMPHREY 2,136,508

DISPENSING TOP FOR CONTAINERS Filed May 20, 1936 INVENTOR. 6454/ S. flu/w/mzy ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention is directed to a dispensing top for a container and while not necessarily restricted to such use, the same is primarily designed as a dispensing top for tooth powder 5 containers.

The invention comprehends a dispensing top for tooth powder containers which is so constructed and arranged as to provide means whereby the requisite quantity of tooth powder 10' may be applied to the cleansing area defined by the ends of the bristles of the tooth brush directly from the container and in such a manner as to avoid waste while at the same time ohviating the previous unsanitary, messy practice 15 of first depositing a quantity of the powder from the container in the palm of the hand.

Due to the fact that the free ends of the bristles of tooth brushes define cleansing areas which vary widely in size and contour, the pres- 20 ent invention further provides a dispensing top structure for a powder container which is so constructed as to permit of the forming of outlets therein which will substantially conform to the size and contour of said cleansing areas in 25 order to deposit the powder wholly within the confines of said brush cleansing areas.

More particularly the invention resides in the provision of a dispensing top structure of the indicated character which consists of a hollow 30 substantially hopper-shaped breast element having an integral upstanding neck which is of substantially oblong configuration in horizontal cross section, which is preferably formed integral with the restricted upper end of the breast element and in which said neck includes parallel elongated side walls and parallel oppositeend walls with inwardly directed flanges spanning either the side or end walls of both of them so as to define webs joining said walls, the free 40 edges of which flanges and/or walls define an outlet opening corresponding approximately to the contour of the cleansing area of the tooth brush bristles and of slightly lesser size than the same to direct the tooth powder thereonto and 45 wholly within the confines thereof, the flanges in addition to serving as means for strengthening the side and end walls of the neck and rendering them rigid, also function as means adapted to contact with the free ends of the 5 bristles to prevent the same from protruding into the outlet opening and clogging the same. Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a dispensing top structure for containers which is comparatively simple in its con- 55 struction and mode of use, which may be inexpensively produced and which is highly efficient for its intended purpose.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is made to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which there are 11- lustrated several preferred embodiments of the invention, while the appended claims cover variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a collective perspective view illustrating a dispensing top structure for a container with the closure cap removed therefrom and shown in juxtaposition thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the top 15 structure with the cap applied.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the top structure in inverted position with the closure cap removed and illustrating the manner in which the contents are applied to a tooth brush.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken approximately on the line illustrated at 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a further modification.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, ll] designates a portion of a container body and H generally the dispensing top structure consisting of a breast element l2 which is of hollow substantially hopper shape and formed with an integral upstanding neck l3 at the restricted upper end thereof. As illustrated in Figs.

1 to 5, inclusive, the neck which is substantially of oblong configuration in horizontal cross section, includes parallel elongated side walls l4 and parallel opposite end walls l5, said end walls being provided with inwardly directed flanges l6 extending towards each other and spanning the side walls so as to define webs joining the same, the free edges of the flanges and the free edges of the side walls l4 defining an outlet opening ll corresponding to the contour of the cleansing area defined by the free terminals of the bristles B of the tooth brush and of slightly lesser size than the same so as to direct the tooth powder thereonto and wholly within the confines thereof when the top structure is disposed in the inverted position illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5..

A closure cap, designated generally by the reference character 18, is adapted to be removably fitted over the neck and conforms generally to the shape thereof and said cap includes opposite resilient side walls l9 which are normally bowed inwardly towards each other to provide a tension for frictionally retaining the cap on the neck, the walls l9 being provided adjacent their upper portions with longitudinally extending beads 20 to facilitate the removal of the cap.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the side walls M of the neck III are provided with inwardly directed flanges 2| extending longitudinally and joining the flanges or webs l6 provided on the end walls l5 so that the inner free edges of the flanges l6 and 2| define an outlet opening 22.

In the variation of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7, the flanges l6 are omitted on the end walls l5 of the neck 13, while the side walls I 4 are formed with inwardly directed longitudinally extending flanges 23 which span the opposite end walls l5 and define together with the free edges of the end walls l5 and the inner edges of the flanges 22 an outlet opening 24.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing top for tooth powder containers including a hollow hopper-shaped breast element, an integral upstanding oblong neck at the restricted upper end of said breast element, said neck including parallel elongated side walls and parallel opposite end walls and inwardly directed flanges on two opposite walls defining together with the remaining walls a single oblong outlet opening, and a closure cap removably fitted over said neck: conforming generally to the shape thereof and including resilient side walls corresponding to the side walls of the said neck, said side walls being bowed longitudinally inward towards each other to provide a tension for frictionally impinging the side walls of the closure cap against the side walls of the neck to retain the cap in place against unintentional displacement.

2-. A dispensing top for tooth powder containers comprising a hollow substantially conical breast element, and an upstanding hollow neck formed at the upper restricted end of the breast element, said neck including parallel elongated side walls and parallel opposite end Walls and inwardly directed flanges formed on two of said opposite walls extending inwardly therefrom and perpendicular thereto and joining the remaining adjacent walls to define together with the edges of the flanges and said adjacent walls, an outlet opening of a size and contour to direct a quantity of the tooth powder onto and wholly within the confines of the cleansing area of a tooth brush when the container is inverted and positioned thereover, said flanges presenting substantial surface areas with which the free ends of the tooth brush bristles are adapted to contact to prevent the entrance of the same into the outlet opening.

CLEN S. HUMPHREY. 

